PA 61 forms an 81.3 mile long arc from Reading to Shamokin Dam in east central Pennsylvania. The state route branches west from U.S. 222 Business in Reading along Centre Avenue. Paralleling U.S. 222 Business along Pottsville Pike, PA 61 proceeds north to Tuckerton and U.S. 222. Beyond the freeway bypass of Reading, PA 61 provides the main route linking the Reading area with Interstate 78 at Hamburg.
North of I-78/U.S. 222, PA 61 traverses Blue Mountain to Port Clinton and Schuylkill County. The state route turns west ahead of Deer Lake to Orwigsburg and Schuylkill Haven, then north again into Pottsville.
PA 61 meets Interstate 81 outside Frackville and a westerly turn onto Ashland Mountain. PA 61 zigzags north into Ashland along Broad Street and with PA 54 along Centre Street. PA 54/61 overlap north to Centralia and west along Locust Mountain to Mount Carmel.
West from Mount Carmel, PA 61 advances to Kulpmont, Shamokin and Sunbury. The state route crosses the Susquehanna River on the Veterans Memorial Bridge between interchanges with PA 147 (Front Street) and U.S. 11/15 in the borough of Shamokin Dam.
Pennsylvania Route 61 was designated in 1963 over what was U.S. 122 between Reading and Sunbury. A four lane section of PA 61 leading into Centralia was abandoned due to the decades old Centralia mine fires underground. The route was realigned onto Byrnsville Road (SR 2002).
|
| PA 61 (Pottsville Pike) north at the loop ramp for U.S. 222 (Van Reed Road) south at Tuckerton. Joining Allentown with Lancaster, U.S. 222 bypasses the city of Reading to the north and west along a freeway system. 04/23/04 |
|
| PA 61 (Pottsville Pike) was expanded to four overall lanes north from U.S. 222 to Cross Keys Road (SR 4030) by 2015. 04/23/04 |
|
| PA 73 concludes at PA 100 (Pottsville Pike) in Ontelaunee township west of Blandon. Forming a multi state route with New Jersey 73 across the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, PA 73 travels southeast to Boyertown and Philadelphia. 04/23/04 |
|
| PA 61 heads north from Leesport to meet PA 662 (Moselem Springs Road) at Shoemakersville. 04/23/04 |
|
| PA 662 circumvents the Reading area southeast from PA 61 to Fleetwood and U.S. 422 near Pottstown. 04/23/04 |
|
| S 4th Street (SR 4035) diverges from PA 61 (Pottsville Pike) in Hamburg. PA 61 bypasses the borough to the west en route to I-78/U.S. 22 while 4th Street heads north into the Hamburg business district. 04/23/04 |
|
| PA 61 crosses the Schuylkill River ahead of Old U.S. 22 and a six-ramp parclo interchange with I-78/U.S. 22. 04/23/04 |
|
| Interstate 78 and U.S. 22 overlap west to Fredericksburg and east to Fogelsville. I-78 joins Harrisburg via I-81 with Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. 04/23/04 |
|
| I-78/U.S. 22 overlap 22 miles east from PA 61 to the Lehigh Valley Thruway. Both routes continue to Newark, New Jersey. 04/23/04 |
|
| Formerly a full cloverleaf interchange joined PA 61 with I-78/U.S. 22. The loop ramps with PA 61 north were removed. 07/16/96 |
|
| PA 61 heads north into the borough of Ashland from Fountain Springs and Ashland Mountain. The state route combines with PA 54 (Centre Street) west from these signals on Hoffman Boulevard. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 54/61 ascend westward through the Ashland business district. Reassurance markers are posted after 15th Street. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 61 expands to four lanes along Memorial Drive leading north from PA 54 (Centre Street) in Ashland. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 61 combines with PA 54 (Centre Street) for 1.0 mile east from Memorial Drive to Hoffman Boulevard across the borough of Ashland. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 54 enters Ashland from Locustdale and a bypass of Mt. Carmel. This shield assembly stands at Centre and 21st Streets. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 54/61 lower through the Ashland business district from 19th Street. Ashland Mountain and Bear Ridge rise to the east. 09/18/04 |
|
| Reassurance markers for PA 54/61 posted on Centre Street east of 15th Street. 09/18/04 |
|
| Centre Street east at 4th Street in Ashland. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 61 turns south from PA 54 (Centre Street) in Ashland to Fountain Springs, Frackville and Pottsville. PA 54 continues east two miles into Girardville and eight miles to the borough of Shenandoah. 09/18/04 |
|
| PA 61 meets Interstate 81 at a cloverleaf interchange outside the borough of Frackville. 07/16/96 |
Photo Credits:07/16/96, 04/23/04, 09/18/04 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 78
Interstate 81
U.S. 222
Page Updated 01-02-2021.
North
West 
